Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition
On the main A82 • Daily: Easter-June & Sept-Oct 9.30am-5pm; July & Aug 9.30am-6pm; Nov-Easter 10am-3.30pm •
T
01456 450573
W
lochness.com • £6.95
Of the two major monster hubs in Drumnadrochit (the other being the
Nessieland Monster Centre), the
Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition
is the better bet,
offering an in-depth rundown of eyewitness accounts and information on
various Nessie research projects. It does a good job, mixing “evidence” of the
monster's existence with frank appraisals of pictures and sightings that turned out
to be hoaxes.
Nessieland Monster Centre and around
Just west of the Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition on the A831 • Sept-June 9am-5pm; July & Aug 9am-9pm •
T
01456 450342
W
nessieland.co.uk • £6
Aimed mainly at families, the
Nessieland Monster Centre
has an exhibition on monster
sightings, a plastic model of Nessie for kids to clamber on, plus its own adventure
playground. he wood-panelled and heavily tartanized interior of the adjacent
Loch
Ness Lodge Hotel
is said to harbour a resident ghost.
11
Castle Urquhart
Beside Loch Ness, two miles southeast of Drumnadrochit and just off the A82 • Daily: April-Sept 9.30am-6pm; Oct 9.30am-5pm; Nov-
March 9.30am-4.30pm • £7.90; HS
he thirteenth-century ruined loch-side
Castle Urquhart,
a couple of miles east of
Drumnadrochit, was built as a strategic base to guard the Great Glen. he castle was
taken by Edward I of England and later held by Robert the Bruce against Edward III,
only to be blown up in 1692 to prevent it from falling to the Jacobites. Today it's one
of Scotland's classic picture-postcard ruins, particularly splendid at night when it's
floodlit and the crowds have gone. In the small visitor centre, a short film highlights
the turbulent history of the castle.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
DRUMNADROCHIT AND AROUND
By bus
Drumnadrochit is served by frequent buses from
Inverness, Fort William and Fort Augustus. Buses arrive and
depart from near the post o
ce, on the A82.
Destinations
Fort Augustus (up to 10 daily; 35min); Fort
William (up to 9 daily; 1hr 30min); Inverness (at least
hourly; 30min).
INFORMATION AND TOURS
Tourist information
In the middle of the main car park
in the village (April & May Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun
10am-3pm; June Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-6pm;
July & Aug Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm; Sept &
Oct Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 10am-3pm; Nov-March
Tues-Sat 9.30am-3.30pm;
T
01456 459086).
Boat tours
The sonar-equipped
Nessie Hunter (
T
01456
450395,
W
loch-ness-cruises.com) runs hourly trips on the
loch from 9am to 6pm, from Easter to October. The hour-
long cruise costs £15 and can be booked at the Nessieland
Monster Centre.
ACCOMMODATION
Benleva
Kilmore Rd, Kilmore
T
01456 450080,
W
benleva.co.uk.
Small, basic hotel in Kilmore, a 15min
walk from the monster centres of Drumnadrochit. Th
e six
en-suite rooms have tartan bedspreads and free wi-fi.
£70
Borlum Farm
A mile southeast of central
Drumnadrochit, off the A82
T
01456 450220,
W
borlum.com.
Attractive campsite overlooking the
village, with space for caravans and tents. The site is part of
a popular ridi
ng s
chool offering lessons, rides and treks
(from £15/hr).
£12
/pitch
Glenkirk B&B
300m west of Nessieland Monster Centre
along the A831
T
01456 450802,
W
lochnessbandb.com.
Bright, friendly B&B in a former church located just a few
minutes' walk from
the
centre, with simple yet smartly
decorated bedrooms.
£80
Loch Ness Backpackers Lodge
Coiltie Farmhouse,
Lewiston; follow the signs to the left when coming
from Drumnadrochit
T
01456 450807,
W
lochness-
backpackers.com.
For a cheap bed for the night, head for
this immaculate and friendly hostel, which has dorms,
private rooms a
nd g
ood facili
ties
including a bar and two
lounges. Dorms
£18
; doubles
£52
